Written by Olivia Cyrus
It has been nearly two months since Kifani Press had the pleasure of welcoming two new summer interns, Diye Ndiaye and Olivia Cyrus. Over their time here, they have taken on a variety of responsibilities and used their individual talents and skills to assist Kifani Press owners Ashley Davis and April Foxx in promoting literacy and creativity across the county. Hear from the interns about what they have learned and their favorite experiences thus far in the Q&A below:
What was your first impression upon beginning your internship with Kifani Press?
Diye: “At first, I thought I would have to do a lot of tedious work. But immediately, everything became so much fun, and I love everything that I am doing right now. It is all very enjoyable, and Ms. Ashley and Ms. April are very nice.”
Olivia: “I was initially nervous about the internship because I knew that I would have to take on a lot of responsibilities, and I wanted to make sure I did a good job at all of them. I also felt compelled to simultaneously learn as much as I possibly could about things like publishing, content creation, journalism, and literacy.”
What does a typical workday look like for you?
Diye: “I really wouldn’t say that what I do is work because it doesn’t feel like it; however, my responsibilities typically revolve around doing inventory and working with computers and Excel spreadsheets, which is a lot of what I like doing. I also like to assist with the Arrow Creative Mini-Makers camp.”
Olivia: “A typical workday for me starts with coming into Arrow and checking all of the Shelby County A to Z emails. Then, based on the emails and the intern priority list Mrs. Ashley gave us, I write down all of the projects I want to complete by the end of the week. Then, throughout the day, I try to meet all of those goals and deadlines to the best of my ability. A lot of my work pertains to correspondence with community partners and creating print and video content for our social media and newsletter.”
What challenges have you encountered thus far while working?
Diye: “I really haven’t encountered any challenges, except for that day we filmed a reel in Overton Park, and it was super hot!”
Olivia: “I think something that was very new to me was learning how to navigate social media and learning about the importance of engagement. As someone who rarely posts on my own personal social media, having to learn the ins and outs of each platform while posting 4 to 7 times a week was definitely a learning experience.”
What lessons have you learned during your summer internship that you will carry with you into the future?
Diye: “I believe I have learned to speak up when I need something and to not be shy or hesitate to ask how to do something that has been asked of me because, at the end of the day, it's going to be on me if I mess it up. And, if I don’t mess it up, that’s great!”
Olivia: “A lot of this job has required me to try new things, even if I, initially, have never done them before or am unsure how to do them. So, I think embracing new challenges is something that I will carry with me beyond the internship.”
What is one of your favorite memories from working at Kifani Press?
Diye: “My favorite memory is when Ms. Ashley bought us Crazy Gander Coffee Company for breakfast that one time at Epicenter. I am in love with their caramel frappe!”
Olivia: “My favorite memories are probably listening to Diye do her own little karaoke sessions while we are working. Somehow she knows nearly every lyric to every pop song ever made in the 2010s.”
What are you still looking forward to in the next few weeks of the internship?
Diye: “I look forward to seeing how all of our projects turn out.”
Olivia: “I look forward to constantly learning something new every day and seeing how all of the Shelby County A to Z work comes together.”
If you could give one final message to Ms. Ashley and Ms. April, what would you say?
Diye: “This was the best place that I have ever worked, and this is the most fun I have ever had while working, so thank you both so much!”
Olivia: “Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity! I have learned so much about my passions and skills and got to do so with a wonderful group of people who are funny, encouraging, and so kind.”